The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Guarded Paths

Again, in these verses, we see the father urge the son (v.1-4), as God urges us, to obtain and use wisdom in all his dealing so that life might go well with him. In so doing the son, and we, find a “fear of the Lord” and “knowledge of God” that stabilizes our life. The “fear” is both a moral reverential fear and an authoritative fear of oversight and correct (v.5). The “knowledge” is an awareness that comes with observation of how God interacts with His people, deals with His people, knowing God’s character, and His principles (v.5). Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding all come from the Lord (v.6).

Those individuals who choose to walk the narrow path (Matt. 7:14) that Jesus spoke about, those who desire to be empowered by Jesus to walk in righteousness find the wisdom of the Lord to be their guide and to provide a Guard around their life (v.7). Verse seven states that the Lord is a “buckler” for those individuals who choose to walk uprightly. To be a “buckler” is to be an “armed defense,” to be a source of “protection,” to be a “protector” and a “shield.” However, interestingly enough it also means to be a “ruler” over the one who is being protected.

When God is allowed to be Ruler of our life we are able to walk “uprightly” because we walk in the power and strength of Christ because of our choice to obey His directives. Once we choose to obey Christ, the power of Christ is able to work through us. Thus, as Paul said and meant in context, ‘it is not I but Christ in (through) me.’

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

What it means to walk “uprightly” (v.7) can be deduced from the meaning of the word “uprightly” as found in the Hebrew language.

Thus, we can determine uprightness (v.7) means to clean our lives from habitual sin, to understand our completeness in Christ, to live a blessed life that prospers in all manners that are intangible and perhaps some tangible ones as well, to be innocent in our dealing, live and act with integrity, to be mature (perfect) in Christ, to live with simplicity (the good type of simplicity), to act with uprightness in our dealing, and to enjoy a full life as found in Christ’s Purpose for us.

God grants us the ability make the correct judgements in life (v.8), thus resulting in wise decisions when we choose to walk uprightly with Him. He also, states He will “preserveth the way of his saints” that choose to walk uprightly and use wisdom (v.8). Therefore, let us examine what it means to have our way preserved.

God will place a guard around us, a hedge of protection that will keep what is not His Will from us. That hedge is made of thorns that prick the forces that come at us that are not a part of God’s plan for us. God will attend to what concerns us, to what touches our life, and protect us from what will not serve His Plan and Purpose for us. Therefore, if it touches the life of the upright, it does so because God has a Plan and Purpose for it doing so.

When I referred to “our life” in the previous paragraph and based upon the Hebrew definition of “the way” our life is inclusive of the road God has chosen for us to travel. Our course through this life and our method of action in each situation. God is there for the upright to preserve and protect their conversations, their practices, their manner of living, and to preserve and protect them wherever they go. What a blessed assurance for those who choose to follow wisdom, who choose to obey Christ, who choose to walk uprightly with their God. They find the beauty in life that can only be found in living in harmony with God (v.7-9).

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some tobe apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Fruit of Rejecting Wisdom

Let us look at what the verses above have to say about the fruit of rejecting wisdom when it calls out to us. When we do not regard wisdom, it means we refuse to accept and apply wisdom. In this state the person has “avoided” and “dismissed” the counsel of wisdom. The individual has refused to listen to reproof and correction.

When wisdom is rejected “calamity” is sure to come as verse twenty-six states. Calamity will be followed by fear, not just any fear but according to the Hebrew language a fear that grows toward terror.

“calamity” in the Hebrew language means:

343. אֵיד˒êyd, ade; from the same as 181 (in the sense of bending down); oppression; by impl. misfortune, ruin:— calamity, destruction.

I know of no person who enjoys oppression, misfortune, and destruction. Nevertheless, if we choose to ignore wisdom we can expect each to follow in growing degrees.

Once the fruit of rejecting wisdom begins to pile up, distress and anguish will wash over the person driving them back toward a desire to seek wisdom. However, at that point wisdom will not come to them as easily (verses 27-28).

We MUST choose to follow the Lord’s Ways, the Lord’s Wisdom and Will early on, not just after trouble has come upon our life (verse 29). We need to embrace the Lord’s correction and counsel not reject it (verse 30) for in doing so we find life and wholeness, not death and brokenness.

We must not blame the Lord for our destruction, ruin, hardships, etc. when we refuse to follow wisdom, for it is not a personal punishment from God but instead a consequence of one’s own choice not to follow wisdom (verses 30-31). If we seek our own “devices,” our own “counsel,” and “purpose” as the Hebrew language defines it, then the very best fruit we can hope for in life is our own fruit, which is substandard in all ways to the fruit of The Holy Spirit, the fruit of Wisdom.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some tobe apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Have you ever thought about what it means for wisdom to cry out for you? Deep within is that still small voice that beckons us to listen to what is right, what is godly, what is God’s Wills – for wisdom. Wisdom is something that is almost tangible, inside we can almost touch it, feel it, and if we allow it to, wisdom touches our life in a very profound way. Wisdom and the application of wisdom to our daily life is a powerful tool God uses to transform our lives. Wisdom cries out from every area of life as verses twenty and twenty-one explains begging us to listen and respond.

Verse twenty-one reveals to us that wisdom will especially cry out during those times when we are going through distress. Distress either caused by circumstances, other people or ourselves. I have provided definitions in connection with the phrase “chief place of concourse” to better help you understand one of the times in our life when wisdom will attempt to cry out to us.

“concourse” in the Hebrew language =

1993. הָמָהhâmâh, haw-maw’; a prim. root [comp. 1949]; to make a loud sound (like the English “hum”); by impl. to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:— clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.

1949. הוּםhûwm, hoom; a prim. root [comp. 2000]; to make an uproar, or agitate greatly:— destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.

When the doors open where wisdom can be applied, wisdom attempts to speak to us. Wisdom is always there and always available to us, and for us, if we chose to seek and apply wisdom.

James 1:5 (NKJV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Verse twenty-two makes it clear the type of people who refuse to listen to wisdom when Wisdom calls. Only the fool, disdainer, and negatively naïve individuals reject the knowledge of wisdom.

In order to obtain the fruit of wisdom we must accept wisdom. Wisdom can come in the form of “reproof” that will prompt us to change our decision[s] or action[s]. Learn to recognize and embrace reproof when it comes, your life will be the better for having done so.

James 1:5 and Proverbs 1:23 both assure us that God’s Wisdom, God’s Truth is available to us if we are willing to listen. We do not lack wisdom because God has refused us, instead we lack wisdom because we have refused to listen to God, listen to reproof, listen to Truth, listen to godly wisdom.

The result of being willing to listen to wisdom when it calls out to us is that godly wisdom will be provided for us and the spirit of wisdom will overflow us. In the Hebrew language this ‘pouring out of the spirit of wisdom’ is inclusive of wisdom being poured out “abundantly” over us. The words we need will flow from us. The knowledge we need will be provided for us. The insight we need will be forthcoming in any situation.

The ultimate fruit of embracing and using wisdom is that by doing so we will dwell in the safety of the Lord, we will be able to live free from the fear of evil. As the Hebrew language depicts living a life in “a place of refuge” having both the “fact of security” and the “feeling of trust” found in the Lord Jesus. We can live life “boldly” living a life of “assurance” a life “without carelessness” and filled with “confidence” and “hope” that only God and life lived in wisdom can provide. Yes, with wisdom we can live a life free from the fear of evil. Please note verse thirty-three, nor I, stated we would be free from evil but instead free from the fear of evil. Evil may touch our lives but we need not fear evil, for anything God allows to touch our lives has passed through His Ultimate Wisdom and therefore, has a purpose for us to our ultimate good.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some tobe apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

The Criminal Element

There is little doubt that the sinner, the evil, the criminal seeks to lure as many people into their snare as is possible. As they fall they desire that other individuals might fall with them, for the destruction of their own life is rarely enough they seek the destruction of most of those people around them, especially those they envy. The wise individual ignores and even flees from those individuals with a criminal leaning.

The criminal’s mind is set on hurting other people. The innocent are their prey. Hurting them or killing them makes little difference to these evil individuals if it means that they can obtain some form of gain from doing so.

The criminal has no problem stealing from other people to fatten their own purse. However, they expect their fellow criminals to trust them. How ironic that a person would believe that an individual will not steal from them what they have stolen from another person. Honor among thieves is a Hollywood myth not a reality of life. Again, the wise person does all he or she can to flee from such individuals as quickly as humanly possible.

Verse 17 makes it clear that the criminal element’s ultimate fate is to be caught. They shall not prevail endlessly in their pursuit of evil without being caught, unless they repent and change their ways early on in their criminal life.

Verse 18 makes it clear that self-preservation is the criminal’s primary concern. They are going to take care of number-one, #1, primarily. Therefore, that means those that run with them will be sacrificed if that is what is required to protect themselves.

Verse 19 shows us clearly both the motivation and end of a habitual criminal. They are motivated by their own greed, their lust for money, for more, for things that they do not have – a side-effect of a lack of contentment. Untimely it is made clear that the unrepentant criminal’s life shall end, most likely taken away from them by another criminal. There is no good end to a life of criminal behavior.

I know many of you will question, but what about how they got that way? What about helping them?

Yes, we absolutely need to help those individuals who desire to leave the criminal lifestyle, those who truly wish to repent. However, let us not confuse those who desire to repent with those whom we desire to repent. We do not need to invest much time or become too close to those individuals who we might want to repent even-though they have no desire whatsoever to repent. For those individuals, the best thing we could do is keep our distance, pray for them, and be ready when they come to a place where they have had a true change of heart, are ready to repent, and change their behavior and actions.

Hurting people do hurt people, this is true. Many, if not most criminals have very abusive backgrounds and backgrounds filled with neglect. I am a firm believer that evil brings about psychological damage and that psychological damage brings about evil. I believe that people kill who are mentally and emotionally very damaged people. People who have been battered and abused mentally, emotionally, physically, sexually, and spiritually rarely have the ability to think clearly and see the world or their circumstances correctly.

There is no harm whatsoever in attempting to provide a criminal with the knowledge of why they might behave as they do. However, it should be done in a detached and professional manner, yet, with love. One must guard him or herself from becoming hurt or damaged themselves, which can happen if a person becomes overly invested in an individual of a criminal element and then that criminal, that they have poured their heart into helping, hurts them.

If you are going to attempt to provide someone with criminal tendencies information about why they might be as they are and how they can heal, overcoming their evil inclination you must be a person of great wisdom and strong personal godly character. Otherwise, leave it to someone else to do and protect your own walk with Jesus.

Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.

Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:

This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV

11And He Himself gave some tobe apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.